The St. Kitts Solid Waste Management Corporation is making efforts to learn as much about recycling in a bid to see what methods it can pursue to improve waste disposal on the island. The corporation’s Collections Officer Tyasha Henry recently visited the Nevis Solid Waste Management Corporation (NSWMC) that has some recycling activity, to see how they conduct their exercises and what programs they have been using. “First thing I notice is that white goods are being crushed along with derelict vehicles and they are getting more space at the landfill, which to me is very interesting,” Henry said. White goods are old appliances such as refrigerators and stoves. Ms. Henry explained that this project is supervised and leads to the collection of several kinds of white goods including springs from bed mattresses. These are then brought to the site for crushing. The crushed metal is subsequently exported. The SWMC official noted that with this project, the landfill is cleared of old vehicles and white goods, hence providing more space at the landfill. “From the information I gathered, the communities are working along with the project. Extra space is left at the landfill so that the landfill could look better and have more space. I think we need that in St. Kitts,” Henry said.

In addition to recycling metal, Ms. Henry also noted that Nevis has been engaging in separation of garbage in a bid to recycling PET bottles. The SWMC has embarked on a similar project in six of the primary schools on St. Kitts where PET bottles are being disposed of in separate receptacles, which will in turn will be collected each week by recycling company Admiral’s. “From what I have been hearing, the people have been cooperating regarding the PET bottles (on Nevis). I think that project would be good for us. After we do that, we can move forward with composting. We can try different things and really think about separation of garbage,” she said. These initiatives she said can be implemented within a year or two from now, with the right planning. Henry believes that by implementing this plan, the island would be cleaner as currently persons are disposing their white goods on empty lots and on the roadside. “As you drive around the island you always find an old derelict vehicle on the side of the road, old stove, washing machine, even beds on the side of the road or a piece of land. This project would help keep the country beautiful,” she said. She even suggested that the SWMC could look at offering the service of collecting white goods from residents at a fee, instead of persons transporting these items to the landfill.